Ireland Family Reunion - June 5-8

Our biennial reunion was scheduled this year by our family to begin on June 5, which was the 60th anniversary of our marriage.  Our family has grown to now include 35 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren making a total of 70 in our family!  We loved having those who came to celebrate with us and are grateful 62 were here.  Of the eight we were missing, Jenna is serving a mission for the Church in Brazil, Brent was needed on the farm when they finally had a window to plant so only Seth and Jenn were able to come, and Carson and Maria were involved with their new home.  

As always, we appreciate Beth being our official family photographer and doing a fantastic job of photographing our events.  It was a challenge to choose among the many pictures to include here, but these are representative of some of our activities; and the next blog entry will include more fun and some of the competitions.  In a separate posting I will also be sharing the family pictures Beth took.

Ryan and Beth were in charge of planning and organizing this year's reunion, and their siblings with their spouses had food preparation assignments.  It was a memorable time.

I will be making a Shutterfly book with more photos from our reunion, but I have selected some to share here on this blog.

Sweethearts forever.

 Ryan bringing us the gift from our family.
(Clicking on the photo brings up a larger version of the photo
to be able to see our wonderful family members 
watching us receive our special gifts.)

I always enjoy special surprises.

An updated family tree for our frame

and a plaque for our entrance hall:

Welcome To The

IRELAND

Family

ESTABLISHED

1959 

Our Family Tree is growing, and we look forward to having
more marriages added.

This was an opportunity to have Seth and Jenn
add their lock.

  Our garage served as our "dining room" for the reunion.

Free time and visiting were included during the reunion

as well as organized games and competitions.

Jeff, Rochelle, Shannon, and Corban enjoy a piece of the anniversary cake

while Chance is more interested in the grass.

It was a treat to have Kayleen and my brother K. come
from Sundance to join in our celebration.
(K., Narene, and Scott) 



We appreciated Kayleen coming with K.
and having the opportunity to visit with family members.
(Kayleen, Amanda, Megan, and Rochelle)

 Enjoying being together and having an opportunity to visit
was ongoing throughout the reunion.
(Judd, Shannon, Trent, Amy, Jessica, Jeff holding Chance,
Seth, Jenn, and Ryan; Robert and Claire on the trampoline)

We loved meeting our youngest grandchild,
Chance.
He came with his family from Arkansas.
(Jeff and Rochelle, Zack, Jamon, Austin, Kate, Miles, and Chance).

Sarah and Derek's 
Max
is our youngest great-grandchild.
He joins Anna and Paul in their family.

Spike ball was a popular game.
(Austin, Ethan, Doug, Isaac, and Mason)

"Human Slingshot" is another fun game
that involves four people slinging each other back and forth
within the stretchable band (which Beth made several years ago).
(Jacob, Rebecca, Kate, and Brynlee with 
Sarah holding Sadie)

A time for all to enjoy the activities
whether participating or being a loyal spectator.
(Tani and Marisa)

Of course, the pool provided hours of fun
whether playing games, swimming, coming down the slide,
jumping off the diving board, or creating contests.

Those living in Utah were happy to
spend time with family members coming from South Dakota,
Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, and Texas.
(Derek with Max, Maren, Haley, Curtis, Megan, Trevor, Maggie, Taylor) 

The pool got lots of use during the reunion.

It wouldn't be an Ireland reunion without a game of football.
(Doug, Seth, Jamon, Ethan, Kyle, Jacob, Jenn, Brady, and Jeff)

The ball is in the air and the defense and offense are ready.

(Doug, Seth, Jenn, Jacob, Ethan, Jamon, Jeff, Brady, and Kyle)
  

Family togetherness and catching up on family doings.
(Curtis, Marla, Taylor, Marisa, Maren, and Maggie)

Sisters-in-law enjoying time together.
(Kortney and Koryn)

Reunions are a time for siblings to hang out, too.
(Megan, Jared, and Amanda)


In the next blog entry there will be pictures from some of the fun activities we enjoyed doing and watching, including some competitions.